"Get it Right the First Time" by Marti Ronemus

So you're feeling a little down about that last hand you flubbed? Worried you aren't playing up to snuff? Relax. You aren't the only one who didn't get it right the first time. How about these false starts?
Nintendo started out making ornate playing cards used among organized crime gangs in the gambling halls of old Japan.
Ikea originated as a little mail order business selling stockings, pens, watches and Christmas decorations out of a kitchen workshop.
Nike began as Blue Ribbon Sports, selling Tiger Running Shoes out of the back of a station wagon at Oregon University track meets.
And look how THEY ended up!
See? There are lots of do-overs in life. Thank goodness.
Now, let's see how we do... do-overs are available.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 3 2
♥ 8 7 6 5 4
♦ Q 9 4 3
♣ 3 2

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	3♦
?

A: 4♥: Should we have passed the first time? Probably. Normally, to jump to 4♥ we would need a singleton. Our distribution prevented the Weak Freak. To bid 3♥ would have been a horrible mistake. Now we get another chance (Do-Over!!), and we show our true colors. Pard already knows we have less than 5-ish pts, so now when we jump to game, he knows there's a ten-card trump fit. This will be fun.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 10 9 6 3
♥ 9 8
♦ 3 2
♣ A 3

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♠	2♦	Dbl	Pass
?

A: 3♠: Pard's double is a Negative Double, unlimited and forcing (you betcha!), showing four Hearts and probably four Clubs. No-trump is sadly not in our future because of the lack of Diamond stopper. We only have 13 HCP, but bridge is not a game of points, it's a game of tricks. We've got seven Spade tricks and a Club in our hand. This deserved a jump to 3♠.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ J 9 8 7 4
♥ 8 4 3
♦ A J
♣ Q 8 4

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
Pass	1♥	1♠	2♥
?

A: 3♠: My goodness. Our pathetic little hand certainly jumped in value when Pard bid Spades, no? Again, we don't have the shape for a Weak Freak, plus Pard could have as few as 7 pts, so 3♠ is perfect.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ J 9 8 7 4 2
♥ 8 4 3
♦ J
♣ Q 8 4

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
Pass	1♥	1♠	2♥
?

A: 4♠: this hand is so bad we have to go to game! Our suit is so miserable we couldn't preempt to begin with, but now? Our Do-Over enables us to show not only our hand, but some style! And remember, no contract is too high if Pard has to play it.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K 9
♥ A 9 8 7 5 4
♦ Q 9
♣ 4 3 2

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♦	Pass	1♠
?

A: 2♥: An overcall isn't unreasonable, even opposite a passed Pard. Our ♠K is well-placed and we've got some nice shape. A pass would not have been unreasonable also.

And now, a hand.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

Rate yourself:

0 - 40%	We applaud your effort. Review the subject and try again. You'll be surprised how much better you'll do. We're here for you!!
41 - 50%	Buy your mentor a cuppa and ask for clarification on the ones you got wrong. No mentor? Make finding one a priority!
51 - 60%	Nice improvement! One more review and you'll have this down solid!
61 - 80%	What a good job! All that's left is some fine tuning
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